eThekwini Municipality Responds to Urgent Concerns Over Burial Services for Low-Income Residents

According to Spanish police, approximately 49,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighboring Morocco in a single day. This influx is one of the largest migration flows in the North African region in recent years.

Migrants reached Ceuta both by land and by sea. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior reported that footage appeared online showing people swimming along the coast or using inflatable rings, while others crossed the damaged border crossing.

In response to a petition from local officials calling for a state of emergency, the Spanish government dispatched 60 soldiers and 200 specialized police officers from mainland Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also plans to visit Ceuta with the Minister of the Interior to personally assess the situation and meet with security service personnel and municipal authorities.

The situation took a fatal turn: local authorities reported finding nine migrant bodies on Thursday, increasing the total number of deaths related to attempts to enter Ceuta in recent months to 60.

Violence spread from Ceuta to Melilla, another North African enclave of Spain, where reports of fights and the burning of three vehicles resulted in numerous injuries.

Madrid promised to deport migrants who entered the country illegally and accused human trafficking networks of manipulating a recent court ruling that hinders the prompt return of migrants found at sea.

These new events increase pressure on Spain, demanding a solution to the surge in migration along the country's southern border, as it must balance humanitarian concerns with ensuring border security.

As part of the celebration of Disability Pride Month in South Africa, the DairyRise Project, implemented by the Agricultural Research Council for Animal Production (ARC-AP), shared an inspiring story of a small farmer from the North West province. His perseverance shows that disability is not a barrier to success in agriculture.

This farmer, who suffers from a physical disability affecting his mobility, is a beneficiary of the DairyRise Project. Despite daily challenges, he continues to develop his farming enterprise, utilizing every opportunity for learning and growth. His experience highlights the importance of inclusive agricultural support and access to development programs that allow all farmers to realize their potential.

The DairyRise Project began providing registered farmers with key services, including milk sample collection, milk quality monitoring, and technical support. During one such scheduled visit, the project team met a farmer whose resilience and dedication made a lasting impression.

As part of the program, the team visited his farm to perform regular procedures of the DairyRise scheme, such as taking milk samples, providing feedback on milk quality and production methods, and farm management. Personalized support ensures that he receives the same opportunities as other farmers while accommodating his specific needs.

His story is similar to those of many South Africans who have overcome adversity and succeeded in agriculture. Among them is Realeboga Mangwegaphe, a twice amputee from Tzaneen, who established a thriving livestock enterprise despite losing both legs. Like Mangwegaphe, this DairyRise beneficiary proves that success in farming is determined not by physical ability, but by persistence, passion, and willingness to learn.

For him, farming is more than just a source of income; it is proof that obstacles can be overcome with the right support system and mindset. He shares a simple yet powerful message with fellow farmers: 'Don't give up. Whether you have a disability or not, knowledge is available, and support is accessible through ARC-AP, DairyRise. All you need is the desire to learn and the determination to continue.'

The DairyRise Project continues to show how inclusive agricultural development can transform lives and strengthen rural communities. By ensuring access for farmers of all social strata and abilities to training, technical assistance, and milk registration services, the initiative helps unlock the potential of South Africa's small dairy sector.

Since Disability Pride Month reminds us of the value of inclusivity and equal opportunities, stories like these serve as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when determination meets support. Thanks to programs like DairyRise, the future of agriculture is becoming more inclusive, productive, and accessible, ensuring that no farmer is left behind.

Three months after Australia implemented the ban on social media access for those under 16, most teenagers continue to use these platforms, according to a report by eSafety.

The eSafety report indicated that the effectiveness of the new regulation was diminished by the lack of adequate systems for verifying user age.

The result fell short of expectations

In practice, the changes were minimal. According to Reuters, more than eight in ten teenagers still accessed at least one social network a few months after the law came into effect, on December 10 of the previous year. Before the new rule, approximately 86% of surveyed young people used at least one platform with an age restriction. After the change, this index remained above 81%, which represents a small reduction.

eSafety attributed this scenario to the difficulty of the platforms themselves in correctly confirming users' ages. Most of the under-16s who had previous accounts managed to keep them or create new accounts three months later, citing the lack of effective mechanisms from the platforms to check age.

The survey detailed several points: more than 8 in 10 teenagers continued to use social media; the proportion of accounts decreased from 52% to 42%; daily use remained almost stable, dropping from about 60% to 58%; and Reddit usage grew from 6% to over 9%, in addition to an increase in the use of messaging apps and online games.

Age verification remains a challenge

About half of the teenagers who kept their accounts reported that the platform never verified their age. Others mentioned that their profiles already indicated 16 or older, or that the systems mistakenly classified them as older.

These findings corroborate previous assessments by eSafety and have prompted an investigation into possible non-compliance with the legislation by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The regulatory agency stated that although eSafety has noticed some improvements from the industry since the March update on minimum age, concerns persist regarding compliance with the rule by these five platforms.

Teenagers' routine changed little

The research also found few modifications in the daily activities of young people, such as sports practices, physical exercise, arts, music, socializing with friends and family, and participation in community events.

Additionally, more than 65% of young people stated that the ban did not affect their lives. The study also pointed out that parents started monitoring their children's social media use less, which could complicate the detection of risks and delay interventions if problems arise in the digital environment.

This report was based on data collected from over 4,000 children and families before the law took effect and three months after. It is the first report of a planned two-year follow-up aimed at evaluating the effects of this Australian policy, which is globally pioneering.